Is defeating Wings in Stars?

DALLAS - Being down 3-0 in the Western Conference finals isn't even the worst part for the Dallas Stars.

This is: Dallas has yet to lead the Detroit Red Wings for a single second in any game this series.

How can the Stars fathom winning four straight games under those circumstances?

They can't. Instead, players came away from practice yester-

day talking about playing for pride in Game 4 tomorrow night, hoping merely to send the series back to Detroit for Game 5. If they can pull off that one, too, maybe then they can start thinking about pulling off what would be among the greatest comebacks in NHL history.

"We're all honest," forward Brad Richards said. "We know it's a tough hole to climb out of, but we're doing some good things. A break or two, a little more concentration in a few areas and we have a win. We've got to look at it like that. Get a win and you don't know what kind of roll you can get on."

Teammate Mike Modano talked about trying "to make this thing interesting, get some confidence going, get a little doubt in their mind, maybe, make it difficult."

They certainly need something because Detroit has nothing to doubt right now.

The league's top team in the regular season has been even better in the playoffs. The Red Wings are 11-2 with nine straight wins, a franchise record for a single postseason. Their next victory will send them to the Stanley Cup finals for the fourth time in 11 seasons, and they're sure to be heavy favorites to win it all for the fourth time in 11 seasons.

But, first, there's that pesky matter of the close-out game.

It's supposed to be the toughest in any playoff series, but Detroit has made it look easy. The Red Wings have ended both series thus far on their first try, ending the opening round with their best defensive performance (their lone shutout) then ending the second round with their best offensive performance (eight goals).

So, no, the Stars aren't likely to catch them looking ahead.

"They're going to have a huge push, we understand that totally," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "In saying that, we have to push them as hard as we've pushed them all series, and harder. And we're optimistic. We're capable of doing that."

The Red Wings are capable of doing anything they want right now, which is why the Eastern Conference finalists should be worried.

See, Dallas hasn't been that bad. Detroit simply has been that good.

Pick a stat, any stat, and the Red Wings aren't just winning, they are dominating the fifth-seeded Stars, making it look more and more like they overachieved by getting this far.

•Detroit scored five goals in Game 3. Dallas has four all series. The overall tally is 11-4.

•The Red Wings also have a short-handed goal. Thus, when the Stars have had a man advantage, Detroit has scored as often as Dallas.

•Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood is riding the wave of being 9-0 this postseason. Dallas goalie Marty Turco has seen his overall career record against the Red Wings sink to 2-13-5.

•Detroit has collected 32 penalty minutes to Dallas' 56. The Stars also have had two players fined for dirty play, the Red Wings one.

•Even good health is on Detroit's side. Yes, the Red Wings remain without Johan Franzen, the top goal-scorer this postseason with 12, and will be again for Game 4. But the Stars will again be without top-line forward Jere Lehtinen and veteran forward Stu Barnes. They also haven't gotten back defenseman Philippe Boucher, as hoped, and they saw Modano and captain Brenden Morrow go straight to the dressing room for treatment in Game 3.

Stars coach Dave Tippett welcomed his club to practice yesterday with the message of "keep your head up." He said he was encouraged with how they responded.

He insists his group has played well in spurts, they just haven't made the most of their chances.

Penguins 4, Flyers 1

PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Whitney and Marian Hossa scored less than three minutes apart in the first period, and Pittsburgh held the Flyers to 18 shots in a victory that gave the Penguins a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

One more win against their cross-state rivals, and the Penguins will advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr led Pittsburgh to back-to-back titles in 1991 and 92.

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